MovieChat Forums > For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012) Discussion > Why I think 'For Greater Glory' sucks

Why I think 'For Greater Glory' sucks

posted 12 years ago by Mrohnoes
15 replies | jump to latest

First off, let me say that I am not anti-Christian, which you'll no doubt assume from the title alone. Furthermore, the bias towards Catholicism makes sense considering who our heroes are and the setting of the movie. With that out of the way, let's get to this movie's failings.

To be honest, I had never heard of the Cristeros War prior to viewing this movie, so I was actually looking forward to the film, seeing how this war is an apparent lost piece of history (at least, from I can gather). However, what I actually got was a war drama completely lacking in focus, character, and a disregard for facts that were either left out, or changed for no apparent reason. Couple that with terrible acting from people who constantly slip in and out of their native and character accents, an overbearing score that tells you what you should feel at certain moments, failed attempts to be deep and emotional, and plotlines that are either underdeveloped, go nowhere, or just end all of a sudden (especially Eva Longoria's plotline). All this culminates into the worst movie I have seen this year.

[–] basewick552005 11 years ago

My god what an idiot you are. Go back to school.
It's obvious you just want attention.

[–] Mrohnoes 11 years ago

I suppose you could say that, given how this is one the few threads on this board that express a negative opinion about this movie. On the other hand, instead of insulting me, why not tackle my criticisms head-on, rather than ignoring them? Also, don't tell me to go back to school. I'm already in school. I'm a junior at high school. I may be a teenager, but I do try to prove that I'm quite intelligent. And I think I proved that by providing legitimate complaints about the movie.

[–] straw_hat_boy_luffy 11 years ago

Well, the problem with your original post proving your intelligence is that your original post was essentially all opinion. Which is fine. You are entitled to your opinion. But merely expressing your opinion in a coherent manner doesn't equate to intelligence. (Again, not even questioning your intelligence. But your intelligence won't be proven by giving reasons why you think a movie sucks.)

The quality of the acting, score, and direction is really all subjective. Stating that you didn't like them doesn't really translate to a compelling reason why a movie sucks. It's just your review, which we can either choose to agree with or not. Let's not go around thinking that this thread is anything more than a tiny, loose review.

I happen to have thought the opposite on most ends. Is it the best movie ever? No. Does that mean it sucks? Also no.

__
Writing is my favorite hobby. Writing something that many can enjoy is my favorite dream.

[–] Mrohnoes 11 years ago

I wasn't trying to prove my intelligence, I was giving my opinion, yet that other guy called me an idiot for no apparent reason. However, I should change the title slightly, so as to make it clear that this is only an opinion. So, yes, let's not pretend that this more than an opinion thread.

[–] jacksflicks 11 years ago

OK, so the comment can be criticized. That doesn't make him an idiot. Actually, you sound rather like an idiot, a mean one at that.

[–] AngstromStrongbeard 11 years ago

Yeah, I feel the same way. I actually enjoyed the movie overall, but it was very much lacking in its..."fit and finish", I guess you could say. It definitely wasn't a big budget production and it showed.

[–] jacksflicks 11 years ago

Ignore the idiot who called you an idiot. But really, when you say "disregard for facts," you need to be specific. Without that you're unpersuasive.

Otherwise, I think you're spot on. I'd call the movie an extended soap opera. It's useful in spotlighting a history few of us knew anything about, but I wish it were better executed.

By the way, you have great writing skill. As you develop your critical skill you'll become a fine scholar.

[–] Mrohnoes 10 years ago

when you say "disregard for facts," you need to be specific. Without that you're unpersuasive

Considering that I haven't seen the movie since its release, I don't exactly remember much of the film's details, but I do remember that the Andy Garcia character is, at first, an atheist, but he converts to Catholicism at one point in the film (in the most arbitrary and contrived conversion to a religion I've ever seen). Now granted, I didn't do much research after the film, but one thing that I did find out is that the real person remained an atheist well after the war. Actually, the above-mentioned conversion is easily one the best examples of the film's terrible writing. Compounding this is that the priest who converts Garcia is killed a couple of minutes later, a clear indication that that conversion was the only reason that the priest was in the movie at all. There are more examples to be sure, but I'd need to watch the movie again to refresh my memory.

By the way, you have great writing skill. As you develop your critical skill you'll become a fine scholar

Wow...I can't really say I've heard anyone say that about me. Many thanks for the complement. Of course, I don't plan on becoming a scholar of any sort, but I do plan to review movies at some point. I plan to specialize in religious movies (the first would definitely be Fireproof), though I will review whatever movies come my way, be they bad or good.

[–] jacksflicks 10 years ago

No need to watch the film again, except for scholarly reasons. Your memory of it is sound. Anyway, I think it was meant as an inspirational story for Catholics. A receptive audience like that is bound to overlook the cinematic shortcomings. Likewise, anything these days with Kirk Cameron. In both cases they are preaching to the choir.

[–] latin_buddy 10 years ago

Read Juan Rulfo's books and you will understand many "cristeros" were plain bandits who did not know anything better to do but pillage.

[–] jellric 9 years ago

All this culminates into the worst movie I have seen this year.

Which begs the question, "What other movies had you seen that year??"

You made this thread in October, so you had seen the majority of the films that year. And this was the worst? Really??

You must have REALLY bad taste in movies. Because although I can see this not being near the top of many moviegoers lists, it ain't a bad movie. It has its problems. But it isn't bad.

Your prejudices are showing.

[–] Mrohnoes 9 years ago

Sorry I took so long to respond to this post.

You made this thread in October, so you had seen the majority of the films that year. And this was the worst? Really??

Yes, this was the worst film I saw in 2012, but I did not see a lot of films that year. Obviously, there were worse films released in 2012, I just didn't see them. Also, keep in mind that the last time I saw this movie was when it was released, so I barely remember the film at all, so my opinion can change quite a bit. For example, when I watched the film Fireproof, I hated it. Now, I don't hate it.

You must have REALLY bad taste in movies. Because although I can see this not being near the top of many moviegoers lists, it ain't a bad movie. It has its problems. But it isn't bad.

So your basis for saying that I have a bad taste in movies is that you thought that this movie wasn't as bad I found it to be. Yep. Makes sense to me.

Your prejudices are showing.

What sort of prejudices are you talking about?

Abstract? Screw that. Some substance will do just fine. Youtube Channel: http://bit.do/irb7

[–] webwarehouse3 9 years ago

You obviously don't like Catholicism. Sorry to break it to you, there is only one truth and Catholicism is where it is at.

[–] Mrohnoes 9 years ago

Are you basing that solely on the fact that I didn't like this movie? The fact that the film has a Catholic bias is entirely irrelevant to my reasons for not liking the movie. It doesn't matter to me in the least who made this movie. I judged the film based on the quality of the acting, directing, screenplay, etc. What religion the filmmakers practice has no effect on my opinion.

Nowhere in my OP did I bring up religion in my reasoning for not liking this movie. Yes, I brought up Catholicism in the first paragraph of the OP, but only because the Catholic bias made perfect sense within the context of how the story was told. Also, let me repeat that I am not anti-Christian either, nor am I anti-religion as a whole. On the contrary, I AM a Christian, but that doesn't mean that I have to/must like this movie or other Christian movies.

So to sum up what I said:

1. I judged the film based on the overall production, not what religion the filmmakers practice

2. I never insinuated that I'm anti-Catholic anywhere in the OP. I'm Christian, but that doesn't mean I have to like Christian films

I'll end the post by saying that your assertion that I'm anti-Catholic is absolutely baseless. If you like this movie, that's fine by me, and you are entitled to your opinion. However, when you make assertions about me or anyone else, you should at least try to give your words a leg to stand on. That's all.

Abstract? Screw that. Some substance will do just fine. Youtube Channel: http://bit.do/irb7

[–] cstritzel6 8 years ago

😛😙😌😒We picked up this movie used and just watched it. I have to say that it didn't exactly "suck", but it was boring and repetitious. Some of the actors were boring or maybe just bored. Aside from a few scenes, it was a great big shoot'em' up.
I was raised Catholic, so the religious theme was not an issue for me.
I kind of knew the main characters and Jose would be killed. And killing that poor horse.
A great portion didn't make sense. My husband enjoyed the movie, and I watched it with him because he wanted me to. To sum up; boring.😜